Muslim community quiz borough commander on knife crime

KNIFE attacks involving Muslim youths in the borough have left their close-knit community reeling. Members gathered last week to raise their concerns in an emergency meeting attended by the borough commander. GREG BURNS reports.

A CULTURE of violence and knife crime has seen a number of high profile attacks on teenagers in Hammersmith & Fulham this year.

The borough was stunned and saddened when 15-year-old Henry Compton student Sofyen Belamouadden was stabbed to death at Victoria Station in March.

The teenager's death was a hammer blow to the Islamic community in Fulham who saw another 15-year-old Muslim boy narrowly avoid death after being knifed on the Clem Attlee Estate earlier this month.

This most recent attack saw members of Al-Muntada Al-Islami Community Centre and Mosque, in Bridges Place, Parsons Green, call an emergency meeting last Friday (29/10) in a bid to tackle the problem head on.

Borough police commander Kevin Hurley was joined by Larry Wright, Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Offending Team manager, and religious leaders to try and get to the bottom of the problem.

Hisham Bella, youth worker at the centre which works tirelessly to connect with young Muslims with Koran teachings, day trips and sporting events, said: "This aim of this meeting is to address the problem with violence within our community with the recent murder of Sofyen and the other attacks in the borough.

"In recent years we have seen a rise in violent crime within our Muslim youth with some dying on our street. We wanted this to be a constructive meeting to find out what is being done about this and what we can do as community leaders."

Two teenagers were also stabbed in separate attacks in Lillie Road and Blacks Road, in Hammersmith on October 17 while another had an artery in his arm severed by an knife-wielding attacker in a balaclava in a daylight attack in the Fulham Court estate on October 24.

But Mr Hurley said that, while they work around the clock to keep the streets safe, they are constantly running into a brick wall for information.

He said: "There is a perception that Hammersmith and Fulham is a violent and dangerous place to live. But muggings are down by 60 per cent from four years ago and burglaries are down by 55 per cent.

"But there is no room for complacency. The fact that a young Muslim boy was killed and another was left fighting for his life has to be a concern for us all and everyone in this room.

"The consequences of a knife crime are catastrophic for the family of the victim and the family of the offender. We are not getting as much help from the young people about incidents as we would like. They tend to think that it is more important not to be a snitch.

"Every mother and father or big brother need to stop and think whether they know what their child or brother is doing and who they are hanging around with because we all need to take responsibility for this."

Iman Saeed Al-Ghad agreed saying: "The first teacher in a child's life is his father and we have to teach them the right manners and way to behave so they do not go astray.

"We also have to make sure we know who their friends are and what they are doing so we can spot if they are getting themselves into trouble.

"As Muslims, we should make sure we teach them to reflect the best of our religion and this is the challenge for us."

A total of 19 youngsters have been charged with Sofyen's murder and are currently remanded in custody.

Police continue to investigate all other incidents. Anyone with information should call police on 020 8246 2482 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.